Ryan Mason undergoes surgery after fracturing his skull in clash of heads with Gary Cahill at Chelsea... but Hull midfielder is 'in stable condition'

• Ryan Mason and Gary Cahill clashed heads in the first half at Stamford Bridge
• The Hull midfielder remained on the floor for nine minutes receiving treatment
• He was taken to St Mary's Hospital and underwent emergency surgery
• Mason suffered a fractured skull and is in a 'stable condition', the club say

Ryan Mason needed emergency surgery on a

fractured skull and was in a 'stable condition' on Sunday night after a sickening clash of heads with Chelsea's Gary Cahill.

The Hull City midfielder, 25, required seven minutes of treatment and oxygen on the pitch at Stamford Bridge before he was carried off and taken immediately to St Mary's Hospital in Paddington.

Hull released a statement on Sunday night which said: 'The club can confirm that Ryan Mason sustained a skull fracture in our fixture at Chelsea this afternoon. He was taken to St Mary's Hospital where he has undergone surgery. Ryan is in a stable condition and is expected to remain in hospital for the next few days.

Gary Cahill and Ryan Mason clash heads in the first half at Stamford Bridge on Sunday

  Mason came off worse than Cahill, who was able to get onto his feet and continue

 

The midfielder receives treatment from the Hull physio team during the first half

'Everyone at the club would like to express their sincere thanks for the excellent and swift care given to Ryan by the accident and emergency department and neurosurgery unit at St Mary's Hospital.'

Mason was injured when defending a corner in the first half. Chelsea captain Cahill attacked the ball and his forehead crashed into Mason's head near his right temple.

Cahill also needed treatment before he was able to return. He scored the second goal late in Chelsea's 2-0 victory. For home supporters there were chilling echoes of an injury to their former goalkeeper Petr Cech, who fractured his skull during a game at Reading in 2006.

'We smashed heads,' said Cahill immediately after the game. 'There was a massive impact and I know he went off. I wish him all the best and I hope there is no serious injury for him.'

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte added: 'First of all, everyone at Chelsea wants to wish him the best. It was a bad accident with Gary. After the first half, it wasn't really good with Gary, but we decided to continue with him.

'It was very bad, this accident. Everyone at Chelsea hopes to see Ryan Mason recover and back on the pitch very soon.' 

PLAYERS TOOK TO TWEET

Gareth Bale ✔ @GarethBale11

Get well soon Mase!! Thoughts are with you and your family, stay strong!!! @RyanMason

10:50 AM - 22 Jan 2017

 

Harry Kane ✔ @HKane

Stay strong @RyanMason

10:18 AM - 22 Jan 2017

 

The FA ✔ @FA

We'd like to send our best wishes to @RyanMason, who suffered a skull fracture while playing for @HullCity today. https://twitter.com/england/status/823301647279550464 …

10:55 AM - 22 Jan 2017

 

Hull City ✔ @HullCity

| Club Statement - Ryan Mason http://bit.ly/2iSdgcb  pic.twitter.com/1F9e17XpSP

Michy Batshuayi ✔ @mbatshuayi

@HullCity "better" news than what I've read first, but still wish him a fast and good recovery all our prayers again #morethanfootball

10:48 AM - 22 Jan 2017

Mason was down on the Stamford Bridge turf for a total of nine minutes after the collision

Mason came through Tottenham's youth system and had a number of lower league loan spells before playing his first Premier League appearance for the north London club in 2014. Capped once by England, he moved to Hull last season for a club record £13million fee.  

Well wishes came flooding in for the midfielder via social media on Sunday night as news of his condition broke.

 England striker Harry Kane, who played with Mason at Tottenham, wrote: 'Stay strong @RyanMason.'

Real Madrid superstar and ex-Spur Gareth Bale shared a picture of himself and Mason during their time together at White Hart Lane.

He wrote: 'Get well soon Mase!! Thoughts are with you and your family, stay strong!!!'

 

 

 

 

Medical staff see to Mason as Sam Clucas watches on at Stamford Bridge

 

The midfielder was placed in a neck brace as he was taken off the pitch

Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi's message read: ''better' news than what I've read first, but still wish him a fast and good recovery... all our prayers again... #morethanfootball'.

Batshuayi's Blues team-mate Marcos Alonso wrote: 'Great to hear that @RyanMason is getting better! #getwellsoon'.

The playmaker's team-mates at the KCOM Stadium were quick to send their messages of support.

Robert Snodgrass wrote: 'Stay strong mate @RyanMason'.

Sam Clucas wrote: 'Thoughts go out to mase and his family'.

Tottenham tweeted from their official account: 'Everyone at the Club sends their best wishes to @RyanMason for a full and speedy recovery. Get well soon, Ryan.' 

The FA were also quick to wish the England international well, with a message on their Twitter page reading: 'We'd like to send our best wishes to @RyanMason, who suffered a skull fracture while playing for @HullCity today.'

 

The former Tottenham midfielder was taken off the field on a stretcher by medical personnel

 

 

Sportsmail pundit Martin Keown added his voice to those wishing Mason well during an appearance on Match of the Day 2 on Sunday night. 

'I think we realised straight away how bad it was. Our thoughts are obviously with Ryan - it's a terrible thing to see on a football pitch, you hope it never happens,' he said.

'Gary Cahill was innocently going for the ball, it was a sickening challenge and let's hope he gets back on to that football pitch again.'

Danny Murphy's thoughts were with both Mason and Cahill following the incident: '[Cahill] is a good guy so of course you would be [concerned], just like any of us would be in the same situation would. 

'The fans' applause was good to see as no one wants to see [that kind of injury] at a football match. Everybody wishes him all the best and for him to get back as soon as possible.'